St. Pete company makes custom car for Shaq

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - The owners of a St. Pete-based company is delivering a custom car to basketball legend Shaquille O'Neil this weekend in Orlando.

Melvin Juarve and his father, Amiltar Juarve of Custom Crafted Cars in St. Petersburg say they met with O'Neil to take measurements so that the car, called a Vaydor, could be built to accommodate O'Neil's 7'1" 350-pound frame.

"He is big!" says Amitar who, along with Melvin, modified the car so that the seats are much farther back to accommodate his long arms and legs.

The Vaydor is a body kit car designed by Matt Mcentegart, of St. Petersburg. One of the cars was featured in the movie "Suicide Squad," as the Joker's car.

Shaq sent his assistants looking for one.

"I wasn't returning calls because I never thought we could fit him in the car," says Mcentegart.

But then he thought of Melvin and Custom Crafted Cars.

Since it's sized for Shaq, the custom Vaydor feels oversized for Melvin. a

"I feel little," says Melvin, whose feet can barely reach the pedals, But as you strain to see over the dash it's clear: It's going to be a chance for Shaq to drive a sports car that doesn't feel cramped, quite possibly for the first time in his life.